Page 88 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“He was hurting me,” Elise cried. “Why won’t you believe me?”

There was another gulp of something. “Because you’re lying,” she said sharply. “He had the defensive wounds,notyou. You think I don’t know that when you two fought, that you would shove him? Or that you’d hit him before?”

She’d never said those words out loud and wondered if it was lack of sleep that had them spilling out.

“I don’t know what lies your father has said about me,” Elise argued, her voice loud, and the shrillness she’d never heard had her moving the phone away from her ear.

“Not lies,” she snapped. “I saw the marks on him.”

She’d stopped at the house once and her father had spilled something on his shirt and went to the laundry room to change out of it. He hadn’t been thinking and took his shirt off and she noticed the scratch marks on his shoulder and chest, then the bruises.

She’d asked what happened and her father quickly put the new shirt on and tried to change the subject.

She wouldn’t let him.

She wasn’t an idiot and could tell right away.

“There are all sorts of explanations for bruises,” Elise said smartly.

“Are you drunk?” she asked. It just registered in her brain the sound of liquid hitting the glass again.

Justine was sitting up in bed and whipping the covers back in jerky motions.

“No,” Elise said.

“You are,” she said. “You called me drunk and it’s not even noon. You’re trying to tell me that my father was attacking you when I know damn well it was the other way around. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You’re wrong,” Elise said, sobbing. The up and down emotions were too much to handle and she couldn’t understand how her father was able to live with this. “If you answered my call the first time I wouldn’t have had to have a drink. It’s just one. I’m taking the edge off. You have no idea what I’m going through.”

She flipped her arms up in the air. “Whatyou’regoing through?” she asked. “Give me a break. You caused it all. And if you think I’m not reporting this to the DA when you’ve said you’re getting help and staying sober, then you’re nuts. I bet they even send someone over to test you.”

“Don’t,” Elise rushed out to say. “It’s one drink. I’m struggling. I miss your father so much.”

“Bullcrap,” she said.

“I need money,” Elise said. “My lawyer’s fees are due and I don’t have much. Can’t you just stop fighting the will? You and Jordan got so much to begin with. Not even a fraction of what the will lists for me.”

“Elise,youwere contesting the will. Not us. You didn’t think your percentage was enough. You started this all, not us.”

“It’s not fair,” Elise said. “I was his wife. I’m supposed to get his house and the money in his accounts, not you.”

“Let me get this clear,” she said slowly. “You’re calling me because you need money and want Jordan and me to just say sure, you can get it all?”

“Yes,” Elise said.

The phone almost flew out of her hand with how fast she was twisting her body around in frustration. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been this worked up.

“Nope,” she said. “Not happening. You’re more drunk than I thought if that is the case.”

“If I drop it, then I’ll get my percentage,” Elise said. “At least it’s better than nothing. I can force you and Jordan to buy me out and that will give me cash. Do you want me to do that? You might not want to touch what you got.”

It was the snare that Elise used. The one where her words were slurring at the same time. “You know what, Elise? You always tried to see if you could get me to give in and this time I’m not. And not only am I not going to, but if you decide to drop it so that you can get your share, Jordan and I are going to contest so you get nothing and everything is held up. Considering you are on trial for Dad’s murder, that’s an easy way to keep his will frozen until the trial is done.”

“You wouldn’t,” Elise said.

“Yes, I would,” she said firmly. “Don’t test me. Don’t push me. Don’t call me again. And you better sober up because I’m calling the DA now.”

She hung up to Elise calling her a bitch and had to sit down and take a few deep breaths.

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